Councillor DW Greenow was elected as Chairman for the Regulatory Sub-Committee hearing.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider an application for Review of a Premises Licence following the Expedited/Summary Licence Review in respect of ‘The Royal Oak Hotel, South Street, Leominster, HR6 8JA.

The Sub-Committee held a full review of the premises licence for the Royal Oak Hotel, South Street, Leominster.

On 22 July 2015, following an application for an expedited/summary licence review of the premises licence by West Mercia Police, the Sub-Committee had suspended the licence for the Royal Oak Hotel subject to further review at a full hearing to be held on 13 August 2015.

The Licensing Officer, Mr F Spriggs, presented the report. 

Chief Inspector A Thomas and Mr J Mooney were present representing West Mercia Police.  Chief Inspector Thomas presented a statement.

Mr Falcini, who had made representations on the matter, spoke on the situation.  He was accompanied by Mrs Falcini.

Mr R Stevens, the owner of the Royal Oak Hotel, then presented his case.

The Sub-Committee retired to make its decision.  The Senior Litigator then read out the Sub-Committee’s decision.

RESOLVED: That

1                 The Sub-Committee has considered the issues before it most carefully.  It has taken as the starting point for its decision the decision of this Sub-Committee of 22 July 2015 at which it decided that the licence of the Royal Oak be suspended until:

1)               The Designated Premises Supervisor had been removed and replaced, and

2)               CCTV equipment had been fitted and approved by the Licensing Officer.

The first action has been done.  The second has not been done, or at least not to a satisfactory standard.

2                 In that context the Sub-Committee is clear that it has only two of the five options set out at page 10 of the agenda papers that it can reasonably take: (1) to further suspend the licence (option d) or (2) to revoke it (option e).

3                 It is the Committee’s view that the police evidence provides historical grounds for saying that the management of the premises has been questionable for some time.   The Committee must support the relevant licensing objectives namely the protection of crime and disorder and public safety.

4            It is reluctant therefore to further suspend the licence when what is needed is a fundamental review of the management systems of these premises, its CCTV equipment and anything else needed to promote all of the relevant licensing objectives.

5            The Sub-Committee makes no specific criticism of individuals.

6            It therefore revokes this licence but makes it plain that as soon as the premises are considered suitable for relicensing the Council’s licensing officer will consider a fresh application without delay.